Champion News

 

On January 17th, someone posted a picture of Andrew Harden on the internet. He was standing on a bass boat out in a lake with a big fish in his right hand and a big smile on his face. It was the occasion of his 44th birthday. We see him in Champion every once in a while, in the spring and fall heading up the Bud Hutchison Memorial Trail Rides. Otherwise, he is a busy farmer and family man. He shares his birthday with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, another productive member of society with a great smile.

Champion Cowgirl Blaine Woods is accumulating blue ribbons. At the Hartville Saddle Club recently she competed in Western Pleasure, figure eight cow horse, barrels and flags and came home with ribbons for each event. As time goes by she will have to come up with some way to preserve all those awards, maybe in a bunch of scrapbooks or in a trunk. She might make a big beautiful blue quilt out of them someday. Meanwhile, she has a brand new cousin named after her great grandfather–Wilder Norris Woods. Congratulations!

“Come on down!” That is what Bob Barker used to say on TV. Tom says it on the internet talking about the weekly McClurg Music Jam. This Monday he said the air conditioner was on in the store, the custard was cooling in the fridge, and the pot roast was going in the oven. It is a potluck dinner at 6:30, then the music starts, good old time mountain music, from 7:00 to 9:00. Old folks at home enjoying this jam on the internet are so pleased to see so many young musicians participating with old tunes like Westphalia Waltz. They carry on an important tradition as they prepare themselves for success in whatever field they choose. It has been proven that early music training aids students in all their studies. Besides, we need the richness of the past to carry us through to a meaningful future.

Gardeners spend time out on the wide veranda discussing tomato problems and potato successes. Some of those early hailstorms and all the wet weather had some of them starting over, but some of them missed the worst part and are being pleased with the harvest. One complains that the seeds sold as ‘dwarf’ French marigolds are outgrowing the plants they were planted to protect. Every year is different. The few dry hot days in a row may help farmers get the rest of their hay in. As the countryside hums with the sounds of big machinery, we cannot but feel grateful for the hard work and perseverance of our dedicated agrarian neighbors. Folks out on Cold Springs Road would like to hear the humming of a road grader every now and then. “Don’t that road look rough and rocky?” Yep.

An aged previous president and peanut farmer said, “What are the things that you can’t see that are important? I would say justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love. You can’t see any of those, but they’re the guiding lights of life.” Other things we heard this week were “my prejudices are better than your prejudices” and “Ignorance is the handmaiden of tyranny.” Buddhists say, “The greatest skill you can develop is the ability to stay in a good mood, even when there’s nothing to feel good about.” Most generally we can find something to feel good about like birds and butterflies in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!